Odyssey Bracelet by Janice Parsons

The Odyssey Bracelet uses Linen cord, which has been popular as a natural fiber for stringing beads for more than one hundred years. As you can see, this wrap can also be worn as as a necklace, or you can layer more than one. 

If this is your first time stringing with linen, our wish is for you to fall in love with the material! The following Step-by-Step guide is for the Black Sky variation of the bracelet, but is intended to be adaptable to all samples (plus any combination you dream up). We always recommended that you read it through prior to starting. 

This easy project was created to look luscious and expensive, but to actually cost very little. The ingredients can be purchased for under $25.00, making it the perfect project for holiday gift giving. Of course, you'll probably also want to make one for yourself!

Project Level: Beginner     
Time to Complete: Time to Complete: 3+ hours

Ingredients

• 1 Guilding the Lily Button
• 10 yards 4ply Black Waxed Linen (sold in 10 yard lengths or by spool of 100 yards)
• 1 Tube Miyuki 3mm Cubes in Matte Gun Metal 
• 1 Spool of Fine C-Lon in Black 

Studio Essentials

• 1 Pair Ultra Flush Cutters
• 1 Macramé Board or Design Tray and Insert.
• Some extra twine or cord (about 2 feet)
• Tape Measure or Handy Tape

Note: This project does NOT use glue or a thread burner.

Before cutting any linen or C-Lon, we need to determine how many strands of linen will fit through your button shank. Take one end of linen and weave it back and forth through the shank of the button. How many strands can you fit comfortably?
Once you have that number, set the button aside. You won’t need it again until the end of the project.

2.  Below is a chart of how many strands of linen to cut and what lengths to cut them based on the number you have determined. Take the number and divide it by 2. That new number tells you how many strands to cut. If you have number that won’t divide evenly by 2, drop down to the next number. Example: 7 strands will fit through but when you divide it by 2, it won’t divide evenly. So, you have to use 6 instead. 6 ÷ 2 = 3. You would cut 3 strands.

3.

NUMBER OF LINEN STRANDS THAT WILL FIT BUTTON SHANK:	CUT LINEN:	NUMBER OF TIMES IT WILL WRAP:	CUT FINE WEIGHT C-LON:
4-5	2 X 120 INCHES	5*	2 X 36 INCHES
6-7	3 X 96 INCHES	4*	2 X 36 INCHES
8-9	4 x 72 inches	3*	2 X 36 INCHES
10-11	5 X 72   inches	3*	2 X 36 INCHES

Not every button shank has a generous opening which will fit multiple strands of linen. If that is the case with your button, to create a bracelet that looks abundant and juicy, you will have to add additional wraps around the wrist to give it the look pictured here.

So, now you are ready to cut your linen and C-Lon. Use a flush cutter or thread snips to cut based on your number. These measurements are intended for a 6-8 inch wrist. Add 12 inches to each strand you cut for a larger wrist.

Bring all the tails together so your strands are even. Fold them in half so you now have twice as many strands. You are ready to make your button loop. So get out a macramé board or other box with sides that you can use to stabilize your linen while you macramé.

A lightweight macramé board is really helpful, along with flush cutters. I prefer working on the backside of the board because I find the words and lines distracting. But, by all means, use the front side if you find it helpful.

Even out your linen and find the center of your strands. Secure them together to the top and bottom of the board so the linen feels pretty taught. A tube of beads or spool of thread can be inserted under the linen to help create space for easier macramé.

The steps to macramé are demonstrated with a heavier piece of scrap cord to clearly demonstrate the steps.
You will be following along with your Fine Weight C-Lon.

Just about a half inch above the center of the linen, tie an overhand knot with your C-Lon.
For demonstration purposes, I have used an easy-to-see heavier cord in aqua.

Take your right cord and create a loop over the linen and under your left cord.

Take your left cord and loop it under the linen and up over your right loop.

Gently but firmly pull the cord to tighten the knot.

Take your left cord and create a loop over the linen and under your right cord.

Take your right cord and loop it under the linen and up over your left loop. Gently but firmly tighten the knot. You have now completed your first square knot.

Start again on the right side making a loop as you did in Step 7. Continue alternating your knot from right to left.
If you forget where you left off, always look for the side with the loop on top; that is the side you will use to start your loop again.

Your goal is to macramé a button loop that will just fit your button but not be overly huge. So, after about 20 complete square knots, remove the project from the board and double check. Better be safe than sorry!

Once you have macraméd a loop the right length to accommodate your button, reattach the project to the board using your spare cord. Position the loop so the tails of the C-Lon are closest to the board (on the bottom section of linen). You are going to macramé around all your linen strings 3 complete square knots.

Separate out a linen strand on each side that is closest to each C-Lon tail.

Knot the linen and C-Lon on each side with an overhand knot.
Using your flush cutters, CAREFULLY cut away the C-Lon tail, not the linen.

Separate the rest of your linen strands and tie an overhand knot at the beginning of each one not too far away from the macramé. No need to measure…make them random looking. Notice for this wrap bracelet, there are now 10 strands. You may have less strands and more length to your linen, depending on what you cut to fit your button shank.

The only caution I have about knotting along the linen is that the knots do absorb a fair amount of length. So, please keep an eye on length as you bead and add knots; you want to make sure you can make your wrap as many times around your wrist as you would like.

Take a moment to separate the beads you are going to use in piles according to how many strands you have of linen.The actual piles don’t have to be equal, just close in quantity.

If you have an overstock supply of beads, you can skip this step.

Think about saving a few beads to use for the tassel. If you end up not having extras, the tassel looks good without beads.

Pick any strand to start with. String on a bead and tie an overhand knot after it.

Tighten the knot. Notice the knot is not up against the bead. In this project, your knots are going to random and uneven in spacing.

Now is the fun part; you get to just string and knot. Try to be “loose” in your planning of where you want the beads. If you have a long stretch with no beads, don’t worry…you can add more beads on other strands to help fill in the empty space. You can also just tie knots by themselves with no beads.

Allow yourself to journey with the beads and linen and explore where they take you!
Always keep in mind how many wraps you want to achieve and keep trying it on as you go. You can do one strand at a time or do them all a little bit at a time. It’s up to you!

As you string and knot, you always want to be aware of your finished length and how many times you want your bracelet to wrap. Keep trying it on every once in awhile to keep your finished length in mind.

When you do measure for total length, keep in mind your button will add about 1 inch to the length. After the last bead on each strand, tie an overhand knot fairly close to the last bead. You are now ready to add the button and macramé the finish.

Finally! Time to get out your button.
Start by threading your linen strands through the shank of your button. Allow a bit of plain linen on the bead side.
Using your scrap cord, reposition the project back on the macramé board.

As you did when making the macramé button loop, stack the linen so it goes high rather than wide. Position your second piece of C-Lon under your linen cords. Tie a square knot with your C-Lon around all the linen strands close to the button.
Macramé 3-4 complete knots. Separate out a piece of linen on each side closest to your C-Lon. 

As you did in Step 16 and 17, tie an overhand knot around one strand of linen and C-Lon on each side and with flush cutters, cut only the excess C-Lon. 

The tassel can be made with our without beads. Each strand starts with an overhand knot first. String on a bead, if you have it. Knot below the bead.
Repeat this to other strands. If you don’t have beads to string, you can just do the first knot on each strand.
Cut them the length you want them below the knots. Untwisting the linen strands gives it a bohemian look. You can certainly keep them untwisted, if that’s your preference.

We hope you have created something you will love for years to come! Please feel free to send photos and comments to info@beadshop.com. And if we can share your work here on The Bead Table, we will need your permission. So, let us know.